AFP
A US MQ-9 Reaper drone crashed near Yemen, the Pentagon said Tuesday, after Iran-backed Huthi rebels claimed to have downed several of the aircraft in recent days.
"Yesterday, an MQ-9 did crash in the vicinity of Yemen. That is being investigated, but I don't have any additional details to share," Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder told journalists.
The Huthis said Monday that they had shot down three MQ-9s in a week and 10 since last year.
Ryder said he could not provide a specific number for security reasons, but that the Huthis' claim of downing 10 US drones "is not accurate."
The latest drone crash came after the Pentagon confirmed in February that another MQ-9 -- which can be used for both reconnaissance and strikes -- went down off the Yemeni coast after apparently being struck by a Huthi missile.
The Huthis -- who are opposed to government forces in Yemen and are one of several militant groups arrayed against Israel -- began attacking shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden in November.
They say they are attacking Israel-linked vessels in support of Palestinians in Gaza, which has been ravaged by the Israel-Hamas war, but ships from multiple countries that have no ties to the conflict have been targeted.
© Agence France-Presse
